Explosion kills 3, injured 15

Gang connections suspected.

POLICE today were not ruling out a connection with the escalation in gang warfare and crime syndicate of the last month with the massive explosion that destroyed a series of buildings in Langridge St, Collingwood, late last night.

The blast came with no warning and began a raging blaze that took 3 hours for firefighters to extinguish. Three bodies have already been found amongst the rubble, but only one, a Mr J. Ranton, has been identified. Mr Ranton was the owner/resident of the shop at 45 Langridge St, and it is believed that he was killed instantly when then rear wall of the residence caved in from the explosion.

The other two bodies were found within the destroyed residence, and their identities are unknown at this stage.

Also injured were a number of nearby residents. Mrs K. Lierdski, a neighbour, claimed that it was only coincidence which saved her. "I'd just gone out of my room to let the cat in when the whole house shook. I ran back to my bedroom, but I couldn't open the bedroom door." Mrs Lierdski's house had been struck with a section of roof from the destroyed residence.

Mr Bill Hughes may have also lost his home. "I think I must have heard the initial explosion in my sleep and woken up, because the next thing I remember is hearing the whole house ring like a bell and having something hit me in the chest." Mr Hughes was initially taken to hospital, but was later released after his minor injuries were treated.

Experts have suggested that approximately 200g of a plastic explosive was detonated in the rear residence of 45 Landridge St at approximately 2:15am last evening. The device is believed to have been triggered by a radio signal, but police have not yet ruled out misadventure.

In a press release this morning, Detective Warren Boanes said "Obviously a device of this magnitude is of an illicit nature, yet it is not yet clear whether the two unidentified men killed were responsible for the device, or simply its victims."